Student loan debt can be a financial ball-and-chain that people drag around for decades, and the most obvious way to avoid it is to minimize the amount borrowed for a higher education.
Taking relatively inexpensive classes at a community college before transferring credits to a 4-year institution has long been one way to do that. What’s even better is being able to build up a year or two of course credits at no cost, and that’s what Trident Technical College is offering to state residents at its campuses in the Charleston area.
Trident Tech recently announced that it will offer free tuition for all programs through the spring term of 2024, with no minimum credit requirement. That’s potentially four semesters of tuition-free courses going forward (spring, summer and fall 2023 and spring 2024).
That’s also a good option for people seeking job training or a 2-year associate’s degree, regardless of any plans for a 4-year degree. And for Charleston-area residents who can attend Trident Tech while living at home, there’s the added benefit of avoiding the steep room-and-board costs that can add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a college degree.
Students would only have to pay for books, digital course materials, fees and supplies — and some of those costs could also be covered by financial aid.
That doesn’t mean Trident Tech won’t receive any tuition money. Students are required to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a.k.a. the FAFSA, and any resulting state and federal aid — Pell grants, S.C. Lottery-funded assistance — would be applied to tuition and registration, with the remaining costs being waived.
Filling out the FAFSA is no fun, but that’s just part of pursuing a higher education. Students would also have to apply to enroll at Trident Tech (that’s also free). New students hoping to get in for the spring 2023 term will need to hurry because the term begins Jan. 9, with registration closing a few days later.
Trident Tech says the free tuition offer is available to “most” South Carolina residents, because some would not be eligible. They are: students in default on federal student loans, DACA recipients, dual-enrolled high school students, and visiting/transient students.
Students who don’t live in South Carolina would get a fee reduction, rather than free tuition.
For more details visit tridenttech.edu, call 843-574-6111 or 877-349-7184, or email Infocenter@tridenttech.edu.
The tuition-free offer isn’t just for people starting out on their path to higher education. Someone who already has a bachelor’s degree would also be eligible, and could potentially earn an associate’s degree at no cost.
For those who plan to earn college credits with an eye toward transferring to a 4-year institution, the college offers a “major” called University Transfer that’s tailored to that goal.
Students can earn an associate’s degree, and transfer in to a 4-year institution as a junior, or third-year student. Or they can pursue a certificate program and transfer earlier.
Earning credits at a technical or community college won’t only reduce the cost of a bachelor’s degree, but it can also help students to qualify for admission by demonstrating that they can succeed at a four-year school.
In most cases, when a student transfers college credits from one institution to another, the credits go with them but not the grades. So, transfer students get a fresh start on their grade-point-average.
Reach David Slade at 843-937-5552. Follow him on Twitter @DSladeNews.
